2020 Album Reviews
Story By: Tristen Heldstab
Savage Mode II – 21 Savage and Metro Boomin [Epic]
Image courtesy of: Epic Records
21 Savage and Metro Boomin dropped their third collaborative album Savage Mode II Oct. 2 and it made its way to the top of the Billboard 200 Chart. Just in its two weeks of dropping, the album has received over 170,000 units, which is equivalent to 200 million streams. The album starts with an intro read by Morgan Freeman. Freeman reads that great men are capable of coming together to make something great and powerful. Savage Mode II is the sequel to the duo’s previous album Savage Mode, which dropped back in the summer of 2016. Since then, 21 Savage and Metro Boomin have made huge names for themselves and have combined exciting pop rap and club bangers with immediate success. Freeman appears on eight out of 15 tracks providing storytelling transitions. In an interview with HypeBeast, Freeman says that narrating for SM2 gave him an opportunity to move away from the “nice guy” character he typically plays and it was something he wanted to jump on. Other artists on SM2 include Drake, Young Thug, and Young Nudy. The songs include topics like sex, drugs, and money; so a typical 21 Savage drop. There is no doubt SM2 is going to be one of the biggest albums of the year and while it took the two to make it, Metro carried this project. For SM2, Metro was able to create and produce some of the best beats in his career. It’s easy to see what fans were ready for the album when 21 Savage announced it back in 2019.
Favorite Song: Said N Done“
Overall Rating: 7/10
Image courtesy of: RCA Records
A N N I V E R S A R Y – Bryson Tiller [Trapsoul | RCA]
After a three year hiatus, Bryson Tiller released his third studio album, Anniversary, this past month on Oct. 2. Tiller’s sophomore album, True To Self, was the last thing he dropped back in 2017. After the release, he took a break from the music industry. In an interview, Tiller says even before True to Self, he was struggling with confidence and questioned his worth as an artist. He says that he didn’t feel like he was fulfilling the expectations of fans, critics, and anyone who listened to his music. Tiller addresses this in the first song of Anniversary, “Years Go By”. He says that it’s been years since he’s put out music and he’s ready to get back on top of it. Tiller claims that he’s regained his “God Tiller” complex with his big return to the music game. The rest of the album has the same theme as its senior, Trapsoul. Tiller sings about love and its betrayal and then his growth as an artist. The album only has one feature and this was a big thing for Tiller’s career as a musician. Tiller was able to get the one and only, Drake, on the album’s eighth track. “Outta Time” is one of the sadder songs on Anniversary and definitely is a “hit different” song. Tiller and Drake talk about how they don’t know if they can still love their significant other or if they’re running out of time to continue trying. “Outta Time” could be set alongside Drake’s 2011 sophomore record Take Care. Tiller said he’s been trying to work with Drake since his first album but they weren’t ever able to connect until the new album was released. Another heartfelt song is “Keep Doing What You’re Doing”. The song starts out with a voicemail from Tiller’s grandmother who passed away this past year. The day before its release, Tiller tweeted:
“i wanna dedicate this new album to my granny. i love you and i promise i’ll take care of everything you left behind.”
The chorus is what Tiller grew up hearing from his grandmother. Tiller says she was his biggest supporter growing up and that she had always known her grandson was going to be successful and motivated him to be the best person he could be.
Overall, the album has such a nostalgic feel as it returns to its Trapsoul roots. It’s such a good album to listen to if you’re in your feels or just want some good, chill R&B sound.
Favorite Song: “I’m Ready For You“
Overall Rating: 8/10
Image courtesy of: www.gorillaz.com
Honorable Mention: Song Machine – Gorillaz
Song Machine is a huge project the Gorillaz have put out this year and it’s not your typical album. Gorillaz decided to take a twist on their latest work and have made it into an audiovisual project. The project started back in January of this year and consists of monthly drops of songs, videos, dubbed episodes that feature the band talking with featured artists. Season One will be complete with it’s final songs and episodes being put out October 23, 2020.
Song Machine and Gorillaz have taken such a creative direction this past year with this project. It will be fascinating to see where Gorillaz takes the rest of the series.
Favorite Song: “Friday 13th (ft. Octavian)“
Overall Rating: 7/10
Photo by: Caven Denham & Tristen Heldstab
